Instrumentation and monitoring of cave initiation at Telfer Mine

Authors: Di Giovinazzo, M; Singh, U

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1002_7_Digiovinazzo

Cite As:
Di Giovinazzo, M & Singh, U 2010, 'Instrumentation and monitoring of cave initiation at Telfer Mine', in Y Potvin (ed.), Caving 2010: Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Block and Sublevel Caving, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 145-155, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1002_7_Digiovinazzo

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Abstract:
The Telfer Gold Mine is a Newcrest Operation located in the northwest of Western Australia within the Paterson Province East of the Pilbara Craton. The modern operation consists of the Main Dome Open Pit and the Telfer Deeps Underground Mines. The underground sublevel caving mine commences approximately 850 m below surface and has a production rate of approximately 6 million tonnes per year. Undercutting commenced in 2006 and pre-existing excavations above the cave footprint were used for cave instrumentation and monitoring. Cave monitoring techniques employed were a combination of a 14 geophone microseismic array, eight deep-hole extensometers, one open borehole and visual observations of pre-existing excavations. A case study is presented on the combined response of the monitoring systems from the beginning of undercut development through to cave initiation and early propagation. This data set enabled interpretation of rock mass response to caving, identification of air gap, and correlation of these with variable draw rates. The monitoring and interpretations were used to manage risks associated with cave initiation and early propagation.

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